Just hours before Israel was set to go ahead with the much-anticipated Gaza withdrawal, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.Gen. Dan Halutz calmly addressed hundreds of police and army officers Sunday afternoon, stressing that, "We're not going out to battle; There's no battle here and no war."

Halutz was speaking at the Negev kibbutz of Ein Hashlosha, not far from the Gaza Strip to an audience of about 150 battalion and brigade commanders and their police counterparts, as well as reporters and TV cameras.

At midnight Sunday night, police and army forces are shutting down the Gaza Strip completely, rendering presence in the area illegal for all Israelis. Operation "Lend a Hand" is set to be launched on Monday morning, when disengagement forces will go door to door throughout settlements slated for evacuation informing families that they have two days to leave, and offering help to pack and move.

In his speech, Halutz highlighted the problems that might arise in the operation and gave guidelines for their resolution. "You'll be required to look settlers in the eyes, feel their pain, shed a tear and show them you love them," he told the commanders.

"On Tuesday, at the end of the operation, you'll be required to transfer to a different state of mind from a state of sensitivity to one of determination."

Halutz spoke in a subdued tone to a crowd gathered under a shaded tent between two eucalyptus trees. His talk was held by the IDF Spokesperson's Office, and was open to the media.

"I expect commanders to lead the forces, to be at their forefront, to display your leadership qualities and to be there to douse water under the hot southern sun.

"Success is the implementation of this mission without casualties," Halutz said.

According to IDF estimates, at least 5,000 right-wing activists have succeeded in infiltrating into Gush Katif in recent weeks, hoping to block the disengagement.

At this point the infiltrators - most of whom are teenagers - do not pose a threat, Halutz said. He also noted that leaders of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip (Yesha) were expected to keep them under control and discourage confrontations between the activists and disengagement forces.

When asked about settlers' plans to shut soldiers out of their communities on Monday when forces come by to issue evacuation order and offer relocation help, Halutz responded: "We are offering our hand, not forcing it. Those who want to take our hand and receive our assistance are welcome to do so."

He once again stressed that the order in which the settlements will be evacuated will be decided on Tuesday night and not any sooner, and four West Bank settlements would not be evacuated until the Gaza withdrawal was complete. The evaluation of certain settlements as "problematic" would not influence the sequence of their evacuation, Halutz noted, but estimated that 50 percent of settlers would leave voluntarily by the deadline date of August 17. After August 17, settlers will be forcefully removed and will get a cut in their compensation.

As for Palestinian violence during the withdrawal, Halutz said: "We hope that the Palestinian Authority will carry out what they have promised." Palestinian forces were expected to complete deployment around the strip by Monday.

Recent statements by Hamas declaring attacks against Israel would continue even after withdrawal are nothing new, Halutz said, noting that such threats have been voiced nearly daily over past year.

Referring to the opinions and emotions of the soldiers themselves, Halutz said, "It is no secret that in the past month a deep public disagreement has arisen.

"This disagreement has entered the IDF. It threatened and still threatens to create fractures in our hierarchy. The army is the face of the nation. We will have to fix some fractures that opened. Not to hide them, but to fix them," he emphasized.

Thousands of Palestinian Authority policemen, waving flags and brandishing AK-47 rifles, were deployed near Gaza Strip settlements on Sunday as part of a major security operation designed to prevent Palestinian militants from disrupting the disengagement.

It was the first time Palestinian security forces had been allowed to come so close to the settlements.

PA security officials said 15,000 policemen had been recruited for the mission  the largest force amassed since the PA was established more than a decade ago. The policemen will create a protective barrier around the settlements to prevent Palestinians from rushing toward them during and after the disengagement, the officials said.

"We are here to protect our people," said Maj. Hussein Abu Adrah of the PA's National Security Force. "We won't allow anyone to come near the settlements because the Israeli army is still there. We are hoping that the withdrawal will be conducted in a smooth manner."

He said the forces would remain at least 300 meters away from the settlements until the withdrawal is complete. The PA forces would then enter the settlements to check for land mines or other kinds of explosives, he added.

PA Interior Ministry spokesman Tawkif Abu Khoussa urged Palestinians to stay away from the settlements, noting that the IDF and many settlers were still in the Gaza Strip. Abu Khousa's appeal came after Al Jazeera and other Arab satellite stations reporting live from the Kissufim checkpoint claimed that the settlers and the IDF had begun the pullout.

Dozens of Egyptian security officers are in the Gaza Strip to help the PA security forces impose law and order

I can't believe this is even happening. It's like a bad dream. It could also be the most outstanding example of political suicide ever. Sharon's support is, where? What am I missing? How could he even propose this and not be hauled away in a straitjacket?

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